FAIR PLAY BY PRESS,

Waikato Times, Volume 109, Issue 18347, 5 June 1931, Page 5

FAIR PLAY BY PRESS,

ITS HIGH STANDARD. MR WINSTON CHURCHILL’S TRIBUTE. Mr Winston . Churchill, M.P., who proudly described himself as a working journalist, presided at the 68th annual dinner in London of the Newspaper Press Fund. “No institution has gained more power in the 20th century than the Press," said Mr Churchill. He continued: — "While our parliamentary institutions have grown steadily weaker, our newspapers have grown steadily stronger, and the Press has blithely consented to fill the gap made by the subsidence of the House of Commons. As a politician, I sometimes fall foul of the Press, and I feel quite differently towards it when it supports mo than when it opposes me. From what I have been able to learn of recent proceedings, that is exactly the attitude of my leader, Mr Baldwin. “The life of British journalism in this country has been characterised by a very high standard of behaviour. No Press in the world Is so incorruptible, and there is no Press in the world where a man who is interviewed can more rely upon being cleanly, fairly and correctly reported.” Mr John Buchan, M.P., said that British journalism had always maintained the highest tradition of honour, and to-day il had a standard of literary excellence which could not be found in the past. It. was announced that the result of Mr Churchill’s appeal for the fund was a subscription list of £II,OOO. Of this. £2OOO was subscribed by Viscount Rothermcre, the president of the fund, who was described by Mr Cordon Robbins, a member of the council, as the most princely benefac - tor the fund ever had. ,